Winrow had found a purse in the Dumpster at a restaurant in Ruidoso Downs while looking for items stolen from a vehicle there. Winrow returned the purse to the victim and she said none of the contents seemed to be missing. The right rear window of her car was broken. That damage was estimated at $150.

During the visit Gavin saw a video of a man loading a shopping basket with camping gear, totaling $441.46 and walking out the door without paying.

Gavin obtained a license from the parking lot video, Gavin found the car the man drove was registered to a female he found out was in Otero County Detention Center.

Gavin called the Alamogordo Department of Public Safety and learned from them that the woman's boyfriend, John M. James, was driving the car.

James, 27, had been released from OCDC three days earlier, according to ADPS. Gavin matched James' driver's license photo with the store video and reported it was a match.

Shortly after Gavin determined James was driving the car, ADPS located and stopped the car and called Gavin.

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Gavin reported James confessed to the crime to the ADPS officer. James wrote a confession for the ADPS officer and he faxed it to Gavin.

Gavin filed an arrest warrant for James for shoplifting, a misdemeanor.

Getting out

Gavin responded to Walmart Sept. 22 at 3:10 p.m. for a report of a shoplifter in custody.

Gavin met with loss prevention and was told there was one man in custody and three accomplices still in the store.

Ruidoso Downs Patrol Officer Chris Rupp arrived to assist and the officers located and escorted the three men to the back of the store for a talk. Dispatch advised two of the men had warrants from other counties but were not extraditable. Another was on parole. Gavin reported one of the men was supposed to be armed and dangerous. The officers cleared the three of involvement and released them.

They arrested Joshua Salazar, 22, of Ruidoso for shoplifting. Salazar said he had consumed a 12 oz. can of Red Bull and thrown the can in the trash. The price of the Red Bull was $1.88.

Salazar was booked and released on his own recognizance. Salazar said he had no permanent address and was leaving town for Houston, Texas, the next morning.

Don't leave, leave

Ruidoso Downs Patrol Officer Martin Valenzuela responded to 200 Friedenbloom for a report of a possible restraining order violation and unwanted subject.

Valenzuela reported Alfredo Villa-Valverde, 30, approached him when he arrived. Valenzuela asked him to wait, but he would not and requested to speak to the reporting party. Dispatch advised the purpose of the call was for a temporary restraining order against Villa-Valverde being filed with District Court.

Villa-Valverde's father and brother arrived and took him from the property.

When Valenzuela finished talking to the victim, he found that Villa-Valverde had returned to the property. He explained to Villa-Valverde that he was to leave and not return. "(Expletive) it, take me to jail," Villa-Valverde reportedly said.

Valenzuela arrested Villa-Valverde for obstructing an officer.

Villa-Valverde's father and brother had returned. Ruidoso Patrol Officer Neal Cox arrived at the scene and escorted the father and brother from the property.

At the police department, Valenzuela afforded Villa-Valverde an opportunity to contact the Mexican Consulate, which he refused to do twice. Gavin reports that about an hour later Immigration and Customs Enforcement Department sent a hold for Villa-Valverde for obstructing an officer.

On the ground

Gavin, Valenzuela and Rupp responded to Walmart Sept. 22 at 7:41 p.m. for a report of two shoplifters leaving the store and a possible fight involving one of the shoplifters and a store employee.

Gavin reported when he arrived he observed a manager pointing to a row of cars. He observed a male in that area look at him and then start to run west across the parking lot.

Gavin pulled alongside the man, stopped the vehicle and ordered the man to stop running. The man ran toward the police car, ran into the front bumper and fell to the ground. As the man got up, Gavin exited the vehicle, pulled his weapon and told him to stop and turn away from him. Gavin said he did not aim the weapon at the suspect.

The suspect refused orders to turn around. Rupp arrived and distracted the man long enough to allow Gavin to reholster his weapon and take the man to the ground. The officers handcuffed the man as he continued to resist.

The man was bleeding from the bridge of his nose, so Gavin requested an ambulance.

From the man's identification in his wallet the officers identified him as Gregory Blaylock, 27, of Mescalero.

Blaylock refused medical care then wanted it several times before agreeing to go to Lincoln County Medical Center. Medics placed Blaylock in a c-collar, strapped him to a backboard and transported him to LCMC. Rupp followed to the hospital.

Released from the hospital Blaylock battled Rupp and Officer Tim Winrow as they attempted to transport him to the police department. Rupp stunned Blaylock with his Taser to get him into the patrol car.

Gavin charged Blaylock with shoplifting, and assault, resisting, evading or obstructing an officer.

Blaylock said he would not be able to post bond of any kind.

Stolen laptop

Ruidoso Officer Neal Cox responded to the 100 block of Santa Anita Sept. 25 for a report of a burglary.

The victim advised her husband left the house about 2:30 a.m. and when he returned at 2 p.m. a Compaq computer was missing.

Bike toss

Ruidoso Patrol Officer Roger Hatcher responded to a hotel on Sierra Blanca Drive for a report of criminal damage to property.

The victim said he was displaced by the Little Bear Fire and staying at the hotel. His Harley-Davidson motorcycle was parked in the parking lot and he found it lying on its side that morning.

He said the motorcycle weighs more than 800 pounds, so it did not fall on its own. He said the motorcycle was scratched on the right saddlebag. He said the bike was pushed all the way over passed the engine guards that protect the saddlebags and fairing from scratches.